The Peyton Manning Release Watch

[crashtestdummy]

Are we heading for a Peyton Manning meltdown? I don't mean in the TO/Delonte West sense, but he's clearly not happy and making sure the world knows:

http://www.indystar.com/article/201...rsay-not-Grigson-will-decide-his-future-Colts

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/s...ng-fan-analyst-and-his-brothers-defender.html

"I'm not in a very good place for healing, let's say that," he said, referring to the practice facility. "It's not a real good environment down there right now, to say the least. Everybody's walking around on eggshells. I don't recognize our building right now. There's such complete and total change."

“It’s not the kind of environment you like to be in. It was fun to get out of town.”

I think he knows his time is up at Indy, but he also doesn't sound like someone looking to retire, either. I think he should retire, just because he has nothing left to prove and it's going to take a couple years to get real comfortable anywhere he goes.

If he does leave, where should he go? The Jets are probably the most complete team looking for a QB, though their O-line leaves a lot to be desired (something I'd be looking for if I were Peyton). So who does that leave? The Titans? Dolphins? Bucs (new coaches might be an issue, though)? Seahawks? Vikings? There aren't many good teams that just need a QB.

 

[blurredvision]

I don't think there's any way that the Colts will keep him on. It will be interesting to see him in another uniform, I'm just hoping he doesn't pull a Favre and bounce around to whomever will take him. Sign with one more team, play for a couple more years, then hang up the cleats.

 

[waggy]

hmm i think it would be silly to let him go. but hell if they do send him to Chicago

 

[MotF Bane]

49ers could make great use of him.

 

[Fingolfin269]

hmm i think it would be silly to let him go. but hell if they do send him to Chicago

You need offensive linemen, not a new qb.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Irsay has repeatedly said that if Peyton is healthy, he'll be a Colt. I will hold him to his word.

 

[Gibson486]

Would be interesting if Andrew Luck ends up being trash in the big leagues...

 

[waggy]

You need offensive linemen, not a new qb.

need more then linemen. we need recievers, running backs, coach.

 

[Red Storm]

Redskins could have him stand next to Rex and just call out the plays and audibles. I swear we would do better.

 

[Fingolfin269]

need more then linemen. we need recievers, running backs, coach.

Yah receivers would be nice too. I think cutler is a good qb but it's hard to tell when he's running for his life (or getting crushed before he can even move) half the time.

 

[Lifted]

Send him to the Jets. They could use a real QB in any shape, and the tabloids will have a blasts with 2 of em in NY (NJ).

 

[crashtestdummy]

hmm i think it would be silly to let him go. but hell if they do send him to Chicago

If I'm Jim Irsay, I have to let him go. His options are as follows, and none of them look any good:

1) Keep Manning, take Luck. The team is old and, Manning or no Manning, needs to be completely rebuilt in order to compete. If they are going to compete now, they need a combination of high draft picks and salary cap space. This scenario ruins both, as they will be spend a huge chunk of their cap space on two players, only one of whom will ever play at a time. They will also be denied the windfall of picks they could get by trading down in the draft.

2) Keep Manning, trade pick. Retool the team with a bunch of high value players, get rid of Mathis and Wayne, and hope that you can make a run in two years. There's a chance this might work, but it will be just as Manning retires and after he leaves, they now have to find another franchise QB (who likely won't be as highly thought of as Luck is).

3) Dump Manning, take Luck. This makes the most sense to me. Start all over again, take the slow road to recovery, and hope that by drafting right you can compete again in three years with a totally new team. There will almost certainly be a return game where Manning thrashes them and everyone will talk about how much Irsay disrespected him (see: Bledsoe to Buffalo), but it's the right call in the long run.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Send him to the Jets. They could use a real QB in any shape, and the tabloids will have a blasts with 2 of em in NY (NJ).

I would hate to become a Jets fan, even temporarily, but if Manning goes there, I will have no choice.

 

[Gibson486]

I would hate to become a Jets fan, even temporarily, but if Manning goes there, I will have no choice.

You will get to cheer against the pats 2 times a year....and they have a stout enough defense to sack brady or pick him off a few times a game...

That said, you are going to have to listen to Rex talk a lot....

 

[crashtestdummy]

Irsay has repeatedly said that if Peyton is healthy, he'll be a Colt. I will hold him to his word.

I feel like "healthy" will be whatever he wants it to be. If he cuts Peyton, he'll say "He's not healthy now, and I can't risk the franchise to see if he might be." If he keeps him, he'll say "He's working hard to get back, and barring any setbacks he'll be starting in September." Both are all spin.

 

[Lifted]

You will get to cheer against the pats 2 times a year....and they have a stout enough defense to sack brady or pick him off a few times a game...

That said, you are going to have to listen to Rex talk a lot....

But he will save money buying playoff tickets once every decade or so.

 

[etrigan420]

I would hate to become a Jets fan, even temporarily, but if Manning goes there, I will have no choice.

<---Huge Colts / Manning fan...

I will seriously has a sad if they let him go.

I also hold guys that stick with one team for their entire careers in high regard. If they release him, I hope he retires...but that's just me being selfish.

Having said that...Seattle needs a QB

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I feel like "healthy" will be whatever he wants it to be. If he cuts Peyton, he'll say "He's not healthy now, and I can't risk the franchise to see if he might be." If he keeps him, he'll say "He's working hard to get back, and barring any setbacks he'll be starting in September." Both are all spin.

It isn't subjective. If he is cleared to play by doctors, he is healthy.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

How many more years do you guys think Manning has left in the tank? I'm skeptical that he'll even be back at all...

 

[RavenSEAL]

Here is a crazy idea...

The Browns...

 

[IndyColtsFan]

How many more years do you guys think Manning has left in the tank? I'm skeptical that he'll even be back at all...

Assuming he heals and comes back at 90-100%, I'd say 5 years tops.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Miami REALLY needs a QB.

 

[zinfamous]

Manning is not healthy. I think he would be foolish to play again with his injury.

 

[crashtestdummy]

It isn't subjective. If he is cleared to play by doctors, he is healthy.

I don't mean being in the game, I mean when the deadline on the roster bonus hits. That's when Irsay has to decide if he's healthy, and I don't think he'll be cleared to play a game then.

 

[Gibson486]

Assuming he heals and comes back at 90-100%, I'd say 5 years tops.

Wow....that is pretty optimistic... I would say 3 years tops, but only because if he does come back, everyone is gonna be looking to sack the hell out of him. It's going to suck if he ends up going somewhere with a bad o line.